Detour (Criterion Collection)

Thumbing his way cross-country to L.A., club pianist Al Roberts (Tom Neal) gladly took a lift in the desert from amiable gambler Haskell (Edmund MacDonald). After his ride succumbed to a heart attack, Roberts opted to bury him, and help himself to car and wallet. His next bad move was to pick up hard-looking hitcher Vera (Ann Savage)--as fateful coincidence would soon steep him in a deadly con game. Seedy, shot-on-a-shoestring noir staple from Edgar G. Ulmer also stars Claudia Drake, Tim Ryan. 68 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; bonus documentary "Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen" (2004); featurettes; theatrical trailer.